de acuna



`1. DE ACUA. sYsTEMoF ELAsTlc WH'ELSFQR ALL CLASSES or Auomooxs 0R Tower) veal-cual APPLICATION FILED'JNOV. 26,19l8.

Patented Sept. 2,1919; 4 sHEETs-SHEEH 1,315'go1g, i

wbaw 1. DE ACUA. SYSTEM 0F ELASTICYWHEELS FUR ML CLSSES 0F AUTOMOTORS 0R TOWED VEHICLES.

APPLICMEON FILED NOV. 26, 1918.

Pammedpt. 2.19m.;

4f' SHEETS-SHEET 2.

SYSTI'MOF ELASTIC` WHEVELS FOB WW/V533."

J. DE ACUA;

ALL CLASSES 0F nuowooas 0R owED vE.H|CLEs. APPLICATION FILED N0VA`2E, |9|8 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4" Shao-@M3015 l i @Se de PatentmSept. 12, 1915).

I To all whom et may concern ATENT OFFICE amsn ne ACUA, criminali); seein.

reinicia.

i sleciacationof Letters Patent d d d "Patented sept.l 2, 191e.

Be `it known thatJos DEYAGUA, civil `engineer, a subject of the Kingdom of Spain,`

residingI at No; 23 Claudio Coello, Madrich Improvements in New Systemsof Elastic a specification. f y.

rlJhis inventionrelates toen elastic wheel structure for motorwand other vehicles.

`eicient elastic wheel structure of strong,

durable andfeornparatively inexpensive ccnstruction `designed for use:` `various types of vehicles and adapted` to be readilyap- 'vehicles overV uneven surfaces; b, b 4 by preventing such v3 ars andvibratioi'is"from` hicles and to the spindlesor `axlesof` road 1 trucks, lorries.` traction ehgines,` ibinotorcy cles7 and analogous .machinesor .devices and" capable of dispensing with reu and other resi-lientftiresaiid r rand of`elinriiiiatingy thertrou y i y tages anddiftlcultle cldelit there()` land` of absorbing and dissip.at11153;;- A l 1t hey being transmitted tothe aXlesandft-he frames or bodies of such vehicles..` f W`th these and` other obgects tion of `anfelastic steerin `wheel structure` illustratingaa form of the invention employof a pair of eccentricallymountedwheelsfor i absorbing thejar and vibration. i l. Fig; `2 is a vertical,sectionalzlview of `the same. l i i i y jinglwheel Wheels foi" All Classes of Automotors or `l Towed Vehicles, of whichthe `followinggisi` y -Figkrisla sectional view of in `view,` the l invention consists in: the construe tion pand` novel combination and arrangement ofparts l hereinafter fully described, `illustrated .inl` the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being. understood that various changes in the forni, proportion, size `and minor details of" constructions, within thescope of the" claims, b may be resorted to without` departiiigfrom. the spirit orsacrificing any `ofthe advan-` .y quickly substituted for d for the `;.re `;eption of and 1l which also coperate with outerbeaie V hingiqrings 12 and 13` .arranged `inf pairs and spaced apart and carried I* ig. (his a similar View of `an elastic steer# modied; forin ofthe invention. d

.Figi` l3 `is a vertical sectionalview of an- .""other` vform otelastic steering wheel' struc- `ture in which a coilhspring of thebarrel type *is employed. i Spaimliasinvented certaininew and useful .l

structure` illustrating a slightly f .,.Figfl is avertical,sectional` View of an` elastic` drivingwheel "structurel constructed lin accordance with this invention.

\ lFig.-6f1is iadetail. sideielevaticn of, the coiledsprin'g shownin Fig. 5. .y b Weesprng. d Fig. 8 isa detail side elevatlon of one of i the rings o r annularmembers onywhich the wheel elements" are mounted. f

y ;V Fi ."9 is a sectionalview` of the same. d plied to the` spindles or airle'siof the steering and driving i wheels of iinotor` vehicles and the axles o `variousother.typesoffVe-W` y i .i d

Referring particularly" to Figs;` 1 and 2.6i `the l ajccompanyingv drawings; the l elastic 11 steering `wheel)structure` comprises in its maticftires i V Fig. 10:;is a detail sectional `vievvoi'T one of the barrels or. 4.casings of the"` inner ball bearings. l

`construction f central 'supporting` rings or jllibers Land 2 providedwithin theirciri fxclimferellcesx; ywith "eccentrically `arr.ranged y .supporting rings or. members l f and 2 or` members are adapted tof be mounted on i the steering spindle 5in placecf anordinary vehicle wheel `and they maybe easily and y y suchya wheel and may H be d employed wherever an" ordinary wheel of `this vcharacter is utilized `on 1 can` riages, wagons, machines' and the like. The

central-supporting rings-or `members are` prcvidedwattheir peripheries with annular ribs 8I and :9` "forminc- `circumferential races anti-friction balls l0 ments (land. fr'. `Similar inner ball bearing y y b ringswlllpandiljare. alsdmcuntedon the` ing an arcuate spiral springadaptedto bef placed under tension by relative movement` central supporting rings or members and receive theballs. The balls and the inner andouter `bearing;rings constitute anti-` which'` are` fuiterposenl'y between the l cenby the wheel eleics f "friction bearings which mayfbe.oftanyde` sired construction and which are arranged beneath `fixed annular flanges and 17 and detachable annular flanges 18 and 19 of the wheel elements. The annular ianges 16, 17, 18 and 19 extend inwardly and embrace the Central supporting rings or meinthe saidy spokes are confined at their inner .ends between side plates 24 and 25'form1ng housings or casmgs for'the inner. ends of the spokes and connected by transverse bolts 26 and27. The side plates 24 and 25 are provided with interfitting cylindrical portions 28 and 29, the cylindrical portions beingfextended and interiorly threaded for the 'reception of the detachablel side flanges 18 and 19 which have outer Ylaterally lprojecting rim portions 30go screw into the cylindrical portions 29 of the side plates.

The. detachable flanges are adapted to be readily removed to permit the bal-l bearings, thek wheelelements a and the central supporting rings or members to be assembled and disxassociatedu The treads 23 maybe of any fdesired construction als the wheels do not depend upon the same for resiliency or cushioning action and they maybe mounted in rims as shown orbe constructed in any other desired manner'and of any material. 27 pierce the side retain` the cylindrical portions ofl the Vside plates in their interfitting'ortelescoping rerangedy in transverse'alinement and are se-4 outer wheel elements lation and iirml-y clamp the'side plates to the spokes.,V j i The eccentric bearings-3 and 4 ofv the supporting rings or membersl and 2 are arcuredon the spindle 5 by means of an' axle nut'31, awasher'32af being preferably interposed between'the axle nut and the outer bearing 3 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 ofthe drawing, but any other suitable fastening means may, of course, be employed andthe projecting cylindrical portion of the is also eXteriorly threaded to receive a closure cap 32j having an interiorly'threadedperipheral iange 33 to secure on the extension of the said cylindrical portion of the outer-wheel element.` The'cap closes the central portion of the 55` ja 'solid appearance at thecenter and while the'eccentrically pivoted annular supporting members or rings are shown open they outer wheel and causes the same to present may "of course be of anyV desired construction to secure the required strength and also yto render the same as light as necessary, it being designed in practice that the two wheel elements with their supporting means will be approximately one-half the weight of an ordinary vehicle wheel for which the terapie The transverse bolts 26and lates and the spokes and device is to be substituted so that the elastic wheel structure will be approximately the weight of such Wheel and will not add materially to the weight o'f a vehicle or machine.

The transversely alined inner and outer bearings 3 and 4 are provided with oppositely tapered inner portions 34 and 35 which have mounted on them disks 36 and 37 havj ing interiorly tapered hub portions 38 and 39 to fit the tapered portions of the eccentric bearings and provided with annular rim vlianges 40 and 41 which are curved and which form a peripheral channel or groove for the reception of a curved or arcuately arranged spiral spring 42 which is connect- 'ed and its terminals connected respectively with the disks or plates 36 and 37 by attaching arms or pieces 43 and 44. The arms or pieces 43 and 44 which connect the terminals of the spiral spring with the side disks 36and 37 enable the said side disks or plates 36 and 37,-which'are connected to and moved with .the supporting rings or members, to place the spiral spring under tension when `thdre is a relative rotary movement of the eccentrically pivoted supporting rings or members due to contact of the wheel elements with inequalities of a road surface. A jar or vibration caused by such contact produces a pivotal movement of the eccentric rings or supporting members which is resisted by the coiled spring and the jar and vibration is absorbed by the coacting eccentrically arranged wheel elements and the connecting spring and is dissipated and prevented from being transmitted to the spindle or axle. The arms or pieces 43 and 44 are radially arranged and are .preferably nuts 46'but any othersuitable means. may t of course be employed'for connecting the' terminals of' the coiled rspring with the annular relatively movable rotary side disks or members.- yThe relative rotary side disks or plates 36 and 37 may be connected with the eccentricallyl pivoted supporting, rings or members in any. other desired manner as may Abereadily understood and any other y suitable means may of course be employed for supporting-thecoiled spring incondition for aii'ording a yieldable-y connection between the wheel elements adaptedffto be placed in a tension bythe relativek pivotal movement of thesame for yieldably resisting such movementto absorb the jars and vibrations incident tothe travel" of the yieldable wheel structure over a `'road surface.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings is illustrated another form of elastic steering wheel structure. in which a coiled barrel spring 47 is arranged between inner and outer eccentrically pivoted supporting rings or members 48 and 49 having eccentric bearings 50 and 'si @castrated Similar fe des@ hardere@ de scribed and mounted on a spindle 52 and re-` tained in place by an axlenut`53 endwasher` 54. A coiled spring* 471s connected atits 55V having an oppositeinterior taperfto con-` form to the taper of` thegadjacent *ends 56 l i `and 570i the eccentriclbearingsofthe `sup*-` spaced relation. `vvith\'g,`the 'gbe'arin i with it and mounted on i bearing and eccentrioally` movement of the supporting rlngssor mem`-` bers 48 and 49 the tension of f the Wheel elements 59 and are-subjected` will be absorbed and dissipated bythecoiled Vspringr 47. The spring l 7 6 and Washer 77 andthe Said bers are equipped `with "Wheel elements `78 and 79 and have ball ibearingslSOand 81 ini i ,'hiibportions of the wheel "tion of the eccentricaally pivoted 1-ings or members with'their Wheel elements `which affords tween `the Wheel elements. Y i

\ tion ring 66` threaded into an to the `character of struoted simil-arto thewheel elements heretofore described 63 andl64 interposedbetvvewn them and the supporting` rings `or members.- J T-he opera- 1s smilarto those heretofore described, the

` essential dili'erence betweenthetwoforfms of the invention lying in Ithe forni ofthespring-` thel yieldable connection be`- In riff. 4 of the drawings' is illustrated another orm of elastic steeringwheel structure employing' a coiledfspring'j offlmirrel` end by a Afric# form lconnected atits inner" p p H267 ofthe l2cv with an extensie centric bearing` 68 of rlng orvmember 69 and end 70 with the-inner eccentrically support` iup,r `ring or member ably :provided with a shanklzgportion 73` member.

ing rings or membersare `retained `on 'a `terposed betvveenthe Wheel elements and the supporting rings or members.

`The wheel elements `an.nular"suppe p t i and; 71 are `provided witlispaced peripheral or circumferential ribs88 formingball bearfvided and the porting rings er membersfl"andtfrm Th thefspring' c be `varied and jars andfvibrationsto which 47 isl inthe formf of a barrel springend it maybe of anygsize t and strength to adapt it vehicle or machine to which .the elasticlwheel `structurey is'to beapplied. n p

rThe W'heel elements 59 and 60arecon` "and 99, the sleeve 98 and are equipped `with tires or treads 61, and 62 andhave" ball bearings supporting approximately L-shaped in "ings bealringsof'the supporting;` rings ormemgbers i osite sides fof the supporti-ng rings `or memthe Vouter l" supporting'` connected; at itsouter:

.7l by a pivot `7.2 preferi drawings.`4` o M i opening 74of thesaidfi'nner Thesup ortingringsor members arefpro-` eccentricallyf',pivoted'- supporting ring or.

Theeccenftricallyfpivoted` supporte v senting bearingffaces toj -balls Theballbearings are equipped with fside plates "or clamps l16"for exclu i fromtheinterior ofthe bearingsand for retaining lubricant thereing` 1 78 and 7 pro# iting'lfmmbers or ings -69 `ingr races and the other `wheel elementsvand i the inner:supporting` rings `or members are i he d t .l `against relative lateral movement by sic e the ball bearings. friction mounting` may" of equipped; vvith suitable treads l 90 and`9l. p e resilient cushioningad shock absorbpring 65 is "similar ftoffthe coiledfbarrel `spring heretofore deup i scribed "l elastic drlvinggvvheel structurel comprisin; ,lr a .brake drum 92l and aidrlving disk or meinber 193 arrangedin spaced relation with the brake drum to provide anintervening space In 5 to 10 inclusive is illustrated an plates 89 which also exclude `dust from .Any 0ther"suitable an'ticourse be prorims orgfellies `84 and 8-5 are forsthe receptionof inner and outer annular isuppoi'ting; members or `rings 94 and "95 `and bers. The brake" drum 92 and the drive disk or member 93 have interlirtting sleeves 9.8

of the brake drum being arranged on the beingjexteriorly recessed at 101 toreceive the fsleevej9`9 Whichislretainedon the sleeve 98 by `a nut 102 having p a threaded engagement with the outer end ofthe sleeve ofthe brake drum. 11The-sleeve of thelbrake drum is re tainedfbn the spindle or axle lby an axle nut 108l but anyother suitable fastening rmeans `may of course` beemployed. The `eccentrically pivote'd supporting` 94 "and rings l or members 95 `are provided with eccentrically` arranged; bearings "104 each provided with "a "pair `ofbarrels orcasings `105 having` re- (fcessed overlapped ends 106 and provided at theanti-friction` balls are located at oprs,"a's "clearly illustrated in ilipff of the p vided at t eirperipheriesfiwith spaced'circumferential ribs 111 forming racesfor antifriction balls 112. which are interposed be- "rings orlinings 115 approximately" L-s`h`apec iup-cross section andpreferably threaded into t elements andpie the antifriction ng dust "Wheel elements 9d`and97 which are mounti W said supporting` rings or inemt a'xle or spindle l0() and 122 with one of the barrels or casings of the conv to the Wheel elements. by means of'inner n. inner hub portion connecting portion 117 Vis relativel 'or ivots 128 and preferably The wheel elements are composed of an intermediate web or connecting portion 117 and anout'er felly or rim portion 118 and an 119 and the said web and thin and fe ly or rim corrugated and the said outer portion is equipped with a suitable tire or tread 120. l Y

The inner and outer supporting rings or members are yieldably connected by means of a coiled spring 121 of barrelform connected at its inner end by a friction ring outerv supporting` ring or member and nected at the other end 123 With a pivot 124 having a shank 125threaded into the inner supporting ring or member.

rJhe coiled springhalfords the yielding con-A nection between t e supporting rings or members heretofore-described and the driving movement of the aXle 100 is transmittecv outer links 126 and 127. The inner links 126 are pivoted at their inner ends to studs carried by the bra e drum and the outer ends of the links 126 are mounted on pivots 129 having threaded shanks 130 which are mounted in threaded openings 131 in the hub portion of the inner wheel element 96. The outer links 127 are connected at their outer ends with pivots 132 of the driving disk or member 93 and their inner ends are mounted on pivots 133 which have threaded shanks 134 arranged in threaded openings 135 of the outer Wheel element 97.

The mechanism is designed to work in a lubricant and the outer Wheel element car-v ries a circular substantially concave-convex cap 136Which is secured at its periphery vto an annular flange 137 of the Wheel ele ment 97. The annular flange 137 is located at an intermediate point between the rim and hub portion of the outer vvheel element and the inner Wheel element is connected drum by a flexible sheet or closure member 138 constructedl of leather or other suitable material land secured to a flange 139 of the inner Wheel element by a' retaining ring 140 and to the brake drum by a retaining ring 1&1. The brake drum is provided With an annularrecess 142 Ito receive the retaining ring and the inner ped ripheral edge` of tHe flexible closure sheet 138 which is of annular formation.

The elastic Wheel structure presents two contact points tothe supporting. surface an the tractionv of the device is thereby materially 'greater than ythe singlefcontact point pneumaticztire and an elongated wheel lbase, is thereby p rovidedayhich increases Withthe-relative' v i eccentrically lmounted supportm pivotal movement-- of the g members.

VVhenonejof the Wheel 'elements issubjected Ato a shock theslioclarf` or jaris transformed' into a vibration which is absorbed and dissipated by the yieldable connecting means between t e supporting members and is not transmitted to the spindle or the vehicle or other frame or body supported by the same. The effect of the shock, upon the wheel structure meeting any obstacle, is double, that is to say, two vibrations are produced instead of one, one occurring a fraction of a second later than the other. This is im ortant, as they occur within the elastic wheel) structure, which causes them to meet and mutually neutralize each other.

In practice,v the double weight of the Wheel structure willbe but little inf-.excess of a corresponding single Wheel andthe increased traction of the wheel structure insures the starting of a machine and stability of the same en route, especiall athigh speeds. Recoil is eliminated an the distance between the bearing points of the Wheel elements is dependent upon the condition of weight and speed. The elastic W el structure insures perfect elasticity an` at the same time is strong, simple and economical. It eliminates the tire trouble incident to pneumatictires and enables a solid Wheel of -for rotary movement onthe supporting members, means for eccentrically pivoting eachof the supporting members on a common spindle' for independent pivotal movement,` and means for yieldably connecting the said. members forv cushioning yand resisting their independentpivotal movement.

2. An 'elastic 'wheel structure including a pair of supporting members, Wheel elements arranged side by side and mounted for rotary movement on the supporting members, means for eccentrically pivoting the supporting members on a common pivot for independent pivotalmovement, and resilient means forconnecting the supporting'members for cushioning and yieldably resisting such pivotal movement;

3. An elastic-wheelstructure including a pair `of supportingy members, Wheel elements arranged sideby side and mounted for rotary movementon' the supporting members, means for eccentrically pivoting the supporting members ona. comgmon pivot for independent pivotal movement, and a spring connected With the said members and arranged to be placed under tension by the 1il-)elative pivotal movement of the said memers. l

Q4. An elastic Wheel structure including annular supporting members, wheel elements arranged side by side and mounted for rotary movement on the sup-porting members, means lfor eccentrically pivoting the supyieldable e means i being adapted the relative pivotal `movement of the `mem-` resilient `means connecting the said members f or cushioning and yieldablyfresistingrela#` tive pivotal movement.

i 5.`An "elastic `Wheel structure including members having periph#` wheel elements mounted for annular supporting" eral bearings, i rotary movement on the said bearings, means for eccentrically pivoting the on a common for cushioning and resisting relative movementofthe saidmembersi 6. /An elastic vwheel structure" including supporting members provided with eccentric bearings arranged to receive acommonlspin-` die, wheel elements Varranged `side by side i said nmenrrbers spindle, and yieldable `means pivotal i i and mounted for rotary movement "oir the supporting members, and resilient means for connecting the wheel elementsto `resist and cushion same.

7. Anelastic wheel `structure tric bearings arranged tocreceive` spindle, wheel eleme-ntsmounted movement on the supporting members and arranged in the planes of thesame, and for connecting the `said members to cushion-their relative pivotal movement. A

8. An elastic wheel structure including supporting members havingbearings arranged to receive a common spindle, Wheel elements arranged side by side `and mounted for independent rotary movement on the said members,` and a spring located between and connected with the a common bers.

9. An elastic wheel structure including supporting members `having bearings arranged to receive a common spindle, wheel elements `arranged side by side for independent rotary movement on the said members, tween the said members and having its terminals connected with the same, said to be placed under tensionby bers.

10. An elastic'wlieel structure including supporting members having bearings arranged to receive a common spindle, `wheel elements arranged side by side and mounted for independent rotary movement on the said members, between `the sa its inner ends with the same "and arranged to be placed under tenion by the relative pivotal movement Vot' the said members.

11. An elastic wheel structure including supporting members having `bearings arranged to receive Ia common spindle, wheel and a coiled spring arranged relative pivotal movement `of the including annular supporting members having eccenf` and mounted elements mounted for independent rotary Lamela porting members on a common spindle, and I `for rotary said members and adapted to be placed under tension by the relative pivotal movement of the said memand a spring arranged bethe supporting members, and spring id members andconnected at e and provided atits i -nulus connected with one ofthe said members, said spring i by the relative spindle, wheel elements jside and mounted on the ,plng relation with the'same for resistin "relative lateral movement, means for `coniiectingthe saldmeiiibers for movement ontliesaid members, and a coiled spring `located between the said membersI inner end with an an having its outer end connectedi withpthe` other of said members whereby the springis placed undertensioii pivotal.` movement `of the members. i s. 212i.` An elasticjwheel structure including supportingmembers having inner and outer bearings, the inner bearings being eccentric rand adapted to be arranged on a common arranged side by outerbearings of the` supporting `members, and `yielda-ble means `for connecting the SaIdmembers to cushion their relative y pivotal movement.

13. Air elastic wheel structure including supporting members` having eccentric bearings arranged toreceive a common spindle,

`said members being also` provided with peripheral bearings, wheeleleinents mounted i on the peripheral "bearings and the said elements, side plates o-r `flanges located site sides of `the wheel element and porting members connecting the supporting members, wheel` 11i). i

elements mounted for rotary movement on driving means for connecting the sleeve with the wheel elements. i

16. An elastic wheel structure including a sleeve adapted to be arranged on a spindle, supporting members having eccentric bearings receiving thesleeve, yielda-ble means for connecting the supporting members, wheel elements mounted for rotary movement on 129 thesupporting members, and driving means having links for connecting the sleeve with the wheel elements. i e `17. An elastic wheel structure including a sleeve adapted to bearranged on a'spindle, .12.5

supporting members having eccentric bear-` ings receivingthe sleeve, yieldable means for jconnecting the supporting members, wheel elements mounted tor rotary move- `ment on thesupporting members, anddriv- 130` i ings receiving the sleeve, yieldable means for connecting vthe sup-porting members, Wheel elements'mounted for `rotary movement on the supporting members, a brake drum car ried by the sleeve at the inner end thereof, a driving plate mounted on the sleeve at the outer end thereof, and means for connecting the brake'drum and thek driving plate with the Wheel elements.

19. An elastic Wheel` structure including a sleeve adapted to be arranged on a spindle, supporting members having eccentric bearings receiving the sleeve, yieldable means for connecting the supporting members, wheel elements mounted for rotary movement on the supporting members, l-a brake drum car-4 ried by thesleeve at the'inner end thereof, a driving plate mounted on the sleeve at the outer end thereof, and inner and outer links connecting the brake drum and the driving plate with the wheel elements. v

20. An elastic Wheel structure including a sleeve adapted to be arranged on a spindle, supportingmembers having eccentric bearings receivingthe sleeve, yieldable means 'for connecting thesupporting members, wheel elements mounted for rotary movement on the supporting members, a brake drum carried by the sleeve at the inner end thereof, a driving plate mounted on the sleeve at the outer end thereof, means for connecting the brake drum and the driving plate with the Wheel elements, and a flexible annular closure member connect with the brake drum and the adjacent wheel element.

21. An elastic Wheel structure including a sleeve adapted to be arranged on a spindle,

- supporting members having eccentric bearings receiving thel sleeve, yieldable means for connecting the supporting members, Wheel elements mounted for rot-ary movement on the supporting members, a brake drum carried by the sleeve at the inner end thereof, a driving plate mounted on the Sleeve at the outer end thereof,` means for connecting the brake drum and the driving plate with the Wheel elements, a exible annular closure member connected with the brake drum and the adjacent wheel element, and a closure cap mounted on the other Wheel element and covering the supporting member of the same and the driving means thereof.

In testimony whereof -he afliXes his signature. JOS DE ACUA.

Witnesses:

. J. LPEZ,

R.' SABRATL. 

